MIss Progress Human Rights Beatrice “Zea” Awatin. Image: Facebook/Zea Awatin
OSLOB, Cebu — Beatrice “Zea” Awatin sustained the Philippines’ impressive performance in the Italy-based Miss Progress International pageant when she captured the Miss Progress Human Rights crown in the coronation program staged at the Messapia Hotel and Resort in Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy, on Sept. 17 (Sept. 18 in Manila).
Since 2017, when Jedaver Opingo became the first and so far only Filipino woman to earn the main title of Miss Progress International, the country’s representatives have continued to reap titles from the global tilt.
Sarah Bona was crowned Miss Progress Environment in 2018, while in 2019, Sarah Margarette Joson received the Miss Progress Human Rights title, the same distinction Awatin earned in this year’s competition.
No contest was staged in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For this year’s edition, 2019 Miss Progress International Vanessa Lopez Giraldo of Colombia relinquished the main title to host delegate Francesca Speranza. The Italian queen also received the Miss Progress Environment crown.
Colombia’s Andrea Pineda was Miss Progress Health, while Puerto Rico’s Gabriella Alejandre was hailed as Miss Progress Cultural Integration.
The Miss Progress International pageant’s tagline is “Be the change that you want to be,” and hopes to show “that there is a way to let different cultures peacefully coexist sharing the same goals,” its website says.
Twenty-seven international delegates participated in this year’s pageant, the global tilt’s eighth edition. JB
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